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A brother in arms

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jack Sanders
  • 451st Air Expeditionary Wing
KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan --  For many families military service is a tradition, and for some it can be a legacy handed down from father to son or daughter; for others it's seen as a rite of passage or merely a coincidence.

Regardless of what drove them to service, one benefit of having family in the military is the rare and unique opportunities that allow family members to serve with one another.

For Petty Officer 2nd Class Alexandra Becerra, running into her brother, Senior Airman Andrew Murillo, while deployed was something they'd planned.

"I think, in January 2012 I was up for orders to go to a new command, and my detailer said that I could volunteer to come out here. I figured it would be pretty cool to come here at least once before we pull out," Becerra said. "I just wanted to get this under my belt, so I volunteered to come here."

Murillo said that he was told that he would be going to Southwest Asia or Kandahar, and he soon found out that his sister was deployed to Southwest Asia also. Murillo requested to go to Southwest Asia, and fortunately his request was granted.

The two met up toward the end of Becerra's tour and the beginning of Murillo's tour, but made the effort during their cross over to catch up. Becerra works as medical logistics at the Role 3 clinic and Murillo is an aerial porter with the 451st Air Expeditionary Wing.

"Today is both of our days off so we're going to hang out," Becerra said.

Murillo and Becerra agreed that sharing a deployment and being part of the military is a unique experience that they both enjoy.

"It's definitely cool, and it's a privilege because when we're older we can look back and say, 'Hey we served together.' It'll be a nice story to tell the kids someday," Becerra said.

"Especially our younger sisters; they look up to us, and now I have a couple of buddies asking me questions because they want to join.," Murillo added.

While they said they worry about the other's safety at times, the company of family makes their deployments more palatable.

"You've got to make it fun out here," Murillo said. "But, it's weird because with her here it almost feels like we're at home sometimes."